diff --git a/assets/script.js b/assets/script.js
index df12d22..371a7be 100644
--- a/assets/script.js
+++ b/assets/script.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ jQuery(document).ready(function ($) {
    *
    * @param {number} paged The current page number (default is 1).
    */
-  function triggerFiltering(paged = 1) {
+  window.triggerFiltering = function (paged = 1) { // Attach to the window object
     let searchTerm = $('#search').val();
     let appliedFilters = [];
 
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ jQuery(document).ready(function ($) {
       }
 
       taxonomyFilters[taxonomy].push({
-      value: $(this).val(),
-      text: $(this).closest('label').text().trim() // Get the text associated with the checkbox
+        value: $(this).val(),
+        text: $(this).closest('label').text().trim() // Get the text associated with the checkbox
       });
     });
 
@@ -98,7 +98,8 @@ jQuery(document).ready(function ($) {
         $('.pagination').html('');
       }
     });
-  }
+  };
+
 
   // Handle sort order change
   $('#sortOrder').on('change', function () {
@@ -157,15 +158,17 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
     button.addEventListener('click', function () {
       const dropdown = this.parentElement;
 
-      // Close all other dropdowns
+      // Close all other dropdowns and update aria-expanded
       document.querySelectorAll('.custom-dropdown').forEach(function (otherDropdown) {
         if (otherDropdown !== dropdown) {
           otherDropdown.classList.remove('open');
+          otherDropdown.querySelector('.dropdown-toggle').setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
         }
       });
 
-      // Toggle the current dropdown
-      dropdown.classList.toggle('open');
+      // Toggle the current dropdown and update aria-expanded
+      const isOpen = dropdown.classList.toggle('open');
+      this.setAttribute('aria-expanded', isOpen ? 'true' : 'false');
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/templates/filter-form.php b/templates/filter-form.php
index 468c1ef..276ee1b 100644
--- a/templates/filter-form.php
+++ b/templates/filter-form.php
@@ -5,11 +5,16 @@ $selected_taxonomies = get_option('content_filter_taxonomies', []); // Get selec
 ?>
 
 <form class="px-4 sm:px-0" id="resource-filter">
-  <!-- Search Field - Theme -->
+  <!-- Search Form - Plugin -->
   <div class="search-text">
-    <input class="bg-light border-secondary border-2 full-width" type="text" id="search" name="search" placeholder="Search..." value="<?php echo isset($search) ? esc_attr($search) : ''; ?>">
-    <button class="bg-primary text-white" type="submit">Search</button>
-    <button type="reset" class="bg-danger text-white" id="clear-search">&times;</button>
+    <div class="search-input-wrapper flex-grow">
+      <input class="full-width bg-[#F8F8F8] border-[#8B8B8B] border rounded-xl" type="text" id="search" name="search"
+        placeholder="Search resources..." value="<?php echo isset($search) ? esc_attr($search) : ''; ?>">
+      <button type="reset" id="clear-search">&times;</button>
+    </div>
+    <div class="flex justify-center md:justify-start">
+      <button class="btn btn-primary bg-primary text-white rounded-xl w-full md:w-auto px-4 py-2" type="submit">Search</button>
+    </div>
   </div>
 
   <div class="search-tax">
@@ -20,8 +25,10 @@ $selected_taxonomies = get_option('content_filter_taxonomies', []); // Get selec
 
       if (!empty($terms) && !empty($taxonomy_obj)): ?>
         <div class="custom-dropdown">
-          <button type="button" class="dropdown-toggle"><?php echo esc_html($taxonomy_obj->labels->singular_name); ?></button>
-          <div class="dropdown-menu">
+          <button id="<?php echo esc_attr($taxonomy); ?>_toggle" type="button" class="dropdown-toggle" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
+            <div id="<?php echo esc_attr($taxonomy); ?>_text" class="dropdown-text"><?php echo esc_html($taxonomy_obj->labels->singular_name); ?></div>
+          </button>
+          <div class="dropdown-menu taxonomy-filter" data-taxonomy="<?php echo esc_attr($taxonomy); ?>">
             <?php foreach ($terms as $term): ?>
               <label>
                 <input type="checkbox" name="<?php echo esc_attr($taxonomy); ?>[]" value="<?php echo esc_attr($term->slug); ?>" <?php echo (isset($_POST[$taxonomy]) && in_array($term->slug, (array) $_POST[$taxonomy])) ? 'checked' : ''; ?>>
@@ -34,3 +41,33 @@ $selected_taxonomies = get_option('content_filter_taxonomies', []); // Get selec
     <?php endforeach; ?>
   </div>
 </form>
+
+<script>
+  document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
+    const form = document.getElementById('resource-filter');
+    const resetButton = document.getElementById('clear-search');
+
+    resetButton.addEventListener('click', function (e) {
+      e.preventDefault(); // Prevent the default reset behavior
+
+      // Clear all input fields
+      form.reset();
+
+      // Clear all checkboxes
+      const checkboxes = form.querySelectorAll('input[type="checkbox"]');
+      checkboxes.forEach(checkbox => checkbox.checked = false);
+
+      // Reset dropdown text to taxonomy name
+      document.querySelectorAll('.custom-dropdown').forEach(function (dropdown) {
+        const taxonomy = dropdown.querySelector('.dropdown-toggle').id.replace('_toggle', '');
+        const taxonomyName = taxonomy.replace(/_/g, ' ').replace(/\b\w/g, char => char.toUpperCase()); // Convert to title case
+        dropdown.querySelector('.dropdown-text').textContent = taxonomyName;
+      });
+
+      // Trigger filtering without reloading the page
+      if (typeof triggerFiltering === 'function') {
+        triggerFiltering(1); // Call the function with the first page
+      }
+    });
+  });
+</script>
diff --git a/templates/filter-summary.php b/templates/filter-summary.php
index 53b9863..d46e7ae 100644
--- a/templates/filter-summary.php
+++ b/templates/filter-summary.php
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 if (!defined('ABSPATH')) { exit; } // Prevent direct access
 
 // Get count from AJAX or direct POST
-$count = isset($resTotal) ? esc_html($resTotal) : 0;
+global $postsTotal;
+$count = isset($postsTotal) ? esc_html($postsTotal) : 0;
 
 // Initialize filters array
 $filters = [];
@@ -54,21 +55,21 @@ if (!empty($filters)) {
   <p><strong>Showing <span id="result-count"><?php echo esc_html($count); ?></span> resource(s)</strong></p>
 
   <div class="sort-filters flex items-start gap-4">
-    <!-- Sort Container -->
-    <div id="sort-container">
-      <label for="sortOrder">Sort by:</label>
-      <select id="sortOrder">
-        <option value="date_desc" <?php selected(isset($_GET['sortOrder']) ? $_GET['sortOrder'] : '', 'date_desc'); ?>>Newest First</option>
-        <option value="date_asc" <?php selected(isset($_GET['sortOrder']) ? $_GET['sortOrder'] : '', 'date_asc'); ?>>Oldest First</option>
-        <option value="title_asc" <?php selected(isset($_GET['sortOrder']) ? $_GET['sortOrder'] : '', 'title_asc'); ?>>Title (A-Z)</option>
-        <option value="title_desc" <?php selected(isset($_GET['sortOrder']) ? $_GET['sortOrder'] : '', 'title_desc'); ?>>Title (Z-A)</option>
-      </select>
-    </div>
-
     <!-- Applied Filters -->
     <p>
       <strong>Filters applied:</strong><br>
       <span id="applied-filters"><?php echo $filterHtml; ?></span>
     </p>
   </div>
+
+  <!-- Sort Container -->
+  <div id="sort-container">
+    <label for="sortOrder"><strong>Sort by:</strong></label>
+    <select id="sortOrder" name="sortOrder">
+      <option value="date_desc" <?php selected(isset($_GET['sortOrder']) ? $_GET['sortOrder'] : '', 'date_desc'); ?>>Newest First</option>
+      <option value="date_asc" <?php selected(isset($_GET['sortOrder']) ? $_GET['sortOrder'] : '', 'date_asc'); ?>>Oldest First</option>
+      <option value="title_asc" <?php selected(isset($_GET['sortOrder']) ? $_GET['sortOrder'] : '', 'title_asc'); ?>>Title (A-Z)</option>
+      <option value="title_desc" <?php selected(isset($_GET['sortOrder']) ? $_GET['sortOrder'] : '', 'title_desc'); ?>>Title (Z-A)</option>
+    </select>
+  </div>
 </div>
diff --git a/templates/resource-results.php b/templates/resource-results.php
index b787d76..9b7b91b 100644
--- a/templates/resource-results.php
+++ b/templates/resource-results.php
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 if (!defined('ABSPATH')) { exit; } // Prevent direct access
 
 // Define dynamic post type and taxonomy
-// $postType = isset($postType) ? $postType : 'post'; // Default to 'post' if not set
-// $taxonomy = isset($taxonomy) ? $taxonomy : 'category'; // Default to 'category' if not set
+$postType = isset($postType) ? $postType : 'post'; // Default to 'post' if not set
+$taxonomy = isset($taxonomy) ? $taxonomy : 'category'; // Default to 'category' if not set
 
 if (!empty($resources)) :
   foreach ($resources as $resource) :
diff --git a/templates/style.css b/templates/style.css
index 66b5b3c..139de66 100644
--- a/templates/style.css
+++ b/templates/style.css
@@ -1,86 +1,280 @@
 .search-text {
   display: flex;
-  gap: 0;
-  margin-bottom: 1.25rem;
-
-  .full-width {
-    border: 1px solid #ccc;
-    border-right: none;
-    font-size: 1rem;
-    padding: 1rem;
-    width: 100%;
-  }
-
-  button {
-    border: 1px solid #ccc;
-    font-size: 1rem;
-    padding: .5rem 1rem;
-  }
-}
-
-.search-tax {
-  align-items: flex-start;
-  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
   gap: 1rem;
   margin-bottom: 1.25rem;
   position: relative;
+}
 
-  .filter-options { padding-top: .5rem; }
-
-  .filter-options label {
-    display: block;
-    margin-bottom: 5px;
+@media (min-width: 768px) {
+  .search-text {
+    align-items: flex-start;
+    flex-direction: row;
   }
+}
 
-  /* Dropdown Container */
-  .custom-dropdown {
-    display: inline-block;
-    position: relative;
-    width: 100%;
+.search-input-wrapper {
+  display: flex;
+  width: 100%;
+}
+
+.full-width {
+  align-items: center;
+  background: #fff;
+  border: 1px solid #ccc;
+  border-right: none;
+  border-radius: 10px 0 0 10px;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);
+  display: flex;
+  font-size: 0.95rem;
+  font-weight: 500;
+  padding: 12px 15px;
+  transition: all 0.25s ease-in-out;
+  width: 100%;
+}
+
+.full-width:focus {
+  border-color: #4E6ACA;
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(78, 106, 202, 0.25);
+  outline: none;
+}
+
+.full-width:hover {
+  border-color: #4E6ACA;
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(78, 106, 202, 0.15);
+}
+
+#clear-search {
+  align-items: center;
+  background: #fff;
+  border: 1px solid #ccc;
+  border-radius: 0 10px 10px 0;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);
+  display: flex;
+  font-size: 1rem;
+  justify-content: center;
+  padding: .75rem 1rem;
+  transition: all 0.25s ease-in-out;
+}
+
+#clear-search:hover {
+  border-color: #4E6ACA;
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(78, 106, 202, 0.15);
+  color: #4E6ACA;
+}
+
+.search-tax {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: 1fr;
+  gap: 1rem;
+  margin-bottom: 1.25rem;
+  position: relative;
+}
+
+@media (min-width: 640px) {
+  .search-tax {
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(1, 1fr);
   }
+}
 
-  /* Dropdown Button */
-  .custom-dropdown .dropdown-toggle {
-    background: #f0f0f0;
-    border: 1px solid #ccc;
-    border-radius: 4px;
-    cursor: pointer;
-    padding: 10px 15px;
+@media (min-width: 1024px) {
+  .search-tax {
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
   }
+}
 
-  /* Dropdown Menu (Hidden by Default) */
-  .custom-dropdown .dropdown-menu {
-    background: #fff;
-    border: 1px solid #ccc;
-    border-radius: 4px;
-    box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
-    display: none;
-    left: 0;
-    max-height: fit-content;
-    overflow-y: auto;
-    padding: 10px;
-    position: absolute;
-    top: 100%;
-    width: 100%;
-    z-index: 10;
+.filter-options {
+  padding-top: .5rem;
+}
+
+.filter-options label {
+  display: block;
+  margin-bottom: 5px;
+}
+
+/* Dropdown Container */
+.custom-dropdown {
+  position: relative;
+  width: 100%;
+  margin-bottom: 1rem;
+}
+
+.dropdown-toggle {
+  align-items: center;
+  background: #fff;
+  border: 1px solid #ccc;
+  border-radius: 10px;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  display: flex;
+  font-size: 0.95rem;
+  font-weight: 500;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  max-width: 16rem;
+  padding: 12px 15px;
+  transition: all 0.25s ease-in-out;
+  width: 100%;
+}
+
+.dropdown-toggle:hover {
+  border-color: #4E6ACA;
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(78, 106, 202, 0.15);
+}
+
+.dropdown-toggle::after {
+  color: #666;
+  content: '\e804';
+  font-family: "fontello", sans-serif;
+  font-size: 0.8rem;
+  margin-left: 0.5rem;
+  transition: transform 0.3s ease, color 0.2s ease;
+}
+
+.custom-dropdown.open .dropdown-toggle {
+  border-color: #4E6ACA;
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(78, 106, 202, 0.25);
+}
+
+.custom-dropdown.open .dropdown-toggle::after {
+  color: #4E6ACA;
+  content: '\e804';
+  transform: rotate(180deg);
+}
+
+/* Dropdown Menu (Hidden by Default) */
+.dropdown-menu {
+  animation: fadeIn 0.25s ease;
+  background: #fff;
+  border: 1px solid #ccc;
+  border-radius: 10px;
+  box-shadow: 0 6px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12);
+  display: none;
+  left: 0;
+  max-height: 350px;
+  overflow-y: auto;
+  padding: 15px;
+  position: absolute;
+  top: calc(100% + 5px);
+  width: 100%;
+  z-index: 50 !important;
+}
+
+/* Improved responsive widths */
+@media (min-width: 640px) {
+  .dropdown-menu {
+    max-width: 750px;
+    width: 200%;
   }
+}
 
-  /* Show Dropdown Menu */
+@media (min-width: 1280px) {
+  .dropdown-menu {
+    max-width: 800px;
+    width: 250%;
+  }
+}
+
+.dropdown-menu::-webkit-scrollbar {
+  width: 8px;
+}
+
+.dropdown-menu::-webkit-scrollbar-track {
+  background: #f1f1f1;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+}
+
+.dropdown-menu::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {
+  background: #ccc;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+}
+
+.dropdown-menu::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover {
+  background: #aaa;
+}
+
+/* Checkbox Labels - Improved touch target sizes */
+.dropdown-menu label {
+  align-items: center;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  display: flex;
+  font-size: 0.85rem;
+  margin-bottom: 4px;
+  padding: 10px;
+  transition: all 0.2s ease;
+}
+
+.dropdown-menu label:hover {
+  background: #f5f7ff;
+}
+
+.dropdown-menu input[type="checkbox"] {
+  accent-color: #4E6ACA;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  margin-right: 0.75rem;
+  min-width: 16px;
+  transform: scale(1.2);
+}
+
+.custom-dropdown.open .dropdown-menu {
+  display: grid;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  grid-template-columns: 1fr;
+}
+
+@media (min-width: 768px) {
   .custom-dropdown.open .dropdown-menu {
-    display: grid;
-    gap: .5rem;
-    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(15ch, 1fr));
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
+  }
+}
+
+@media (min-width: 1024px) {
+  .custom-dropdown.open .dropdown-menu {
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(150px, 1fr));
+  }
+}
+
+@media (min-width: 1280px) {
+  .custom-dropdown.open .dropdown-menu {
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(4, minmax(150px, 1fr));
+  }
+}
+
+@keyframes fadeIn {
+  from {
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: translateY(-5px);
   }
 
-  /* Checkbox Labels */
-  .dropdown-menu label {
-    display: block;
-    margin-bottom: 8px;
+  to {
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: translateY(0);
   }
+}
 
-  .dropdown-menu input[type="checkbox"] {
-    margin-right: 8px;
-  }
+.dropdown-text {
+  overflow: hidden;
+  text-align: left;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  width: 100%;
+}
+
+#sort-container {
+  width: fit-content;
+}
+
+#sortOrder {
+  border: 1px solid #ccc;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  display:flex;
+  font-size: 0.95rem;
+  font-weight: 500;
+  max-width: fit-content;
+  padding: 2px 4px;
+  transition: all 0.25s ease-in-out;
+  width: 100%;
 }
 
 #resource-filter-summary {
@@ -90,81 +284,109 @@
   margin-bottom: 1.25rem;
   width: 100%;
 
-  p { margin: 0; padding: 0; }
+  p {
+    margin: 0;
+    padding: 0;
+
+    @apply leading-5;
+
+    &:first-child {
+      @apply leading-none;
+    }
+  }
+
+  #applied-filters {
+    @apply italic;
+
+    font-size: 14px;
+    margin-top: 15px;
+
+    .filter-item {
+      background: #f0f0f0;
+      border: 1px solid #ccc;
+      border-radius: 20px;
+      display: inline-block;
+      margin: 5px;
+      padding: 5px 10px;
+
+      button.remove-filter {
+        background: none;
+        border: none;
+        color: #0073aa;
+        cursor: pointer;
+        font-size: 16px;
+        margin-left: 5px;
+
+        &:hover {
+          color: #d63638;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  #sort-container {
+    @apply m-0 p-0 leading-5;
+
+    label {
+      @apply font-bold;
+    }
+
+    select {
+      @apply mt-1;
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 #resource-results {
   display: grid;
-  gap: 1.5rem;
-  grid-template-columns: repeat(1, minmax(0, 1fr));
+  gap: 1rem;
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));
 }
 
-#applied-filters {
-  margin-top: 15px;
-  font-size: 14px;
-}
-
-.filter-item {
-  background: #f0f0f0;
-  border: 1px solid #ccc;
-  border-radius: 20px;
-  display: inline-block;
-  margin: 5px;
-  padding: 5px 10px;
-}
-
-.filter-item button.remove-filter {
-  background: none;
-  border: none;
-  color: #0073aa;
-  cursor: pointer;
-  font-size: 16px;
-  margin-left: 5px;
-}
-
-.filter-item button.remove-filter:hover { color: #d63638; }
-
 .pagination {
   display: flex;
   justify-content: center;
-  padding: 20px 0;
+  margin-top: 20px;
+
+  ul {
+    display: flex;
+    list-style: none;
+    gap: 8px;
+    padding: 0;
+  }
+
+  a,
+  span {
+    border: 1px solid #ddd;
+    border-radius: 4px;
+    color: #4E6ACA;
+    margin: 0 5px;
+    padding: 8px 12px;
+    text-decoration: none;
+  }
+
+  a:hover {
+    background: #4E6ACA;
+    color: #fff;
+  }
+
+  .current {
+    background: #4E6ACA;
+    border-color: #4E6ACA;
+    color: #fff;
+    padding: 8px 12px;
+  }
 }
 
-.pagination ul {
-  list-style: none;
-  display: flex;
-  gap: 8px;
-  padding: 0;
-}
-
-.pagination a,
-.pagination span {
-  margin: 0 5px;
-  padding: 8px 12px;
-  text-decoration: none;
-  color: #0073aa;
-  border: 1px solid #ddd;
-  border-radius: 4px;
-}
-
-.pagination a:hover {
-  background: #0073aa;
-  color: #fff;
-}
-
-.pagination .current {
-  background: #0073aa;
-  color: #fff;
-  border-color: #0073aa;
-}
-
-@media (min-width: 768px) { /* Tailwind 'md' breakpoint */
+@media (min-width: 768px) {
+  /* Tailwind 'md' breakpoint */
   #resource-results {
     grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));
   }
 }
 
-@media (min-width: 1024px) { /* Tailwind 'lg' breakpoint */
+@media (min-width: 1024px) {
+  /* Tailwind 'lg' breakpoint */
   #resource-results {
     grid-template-columns: repeat(4, minmax(0, 1fr));
   }